Park Restrictions Opposed

Large Hearing Turnout Divided On Plans

Proposed restrictions on community events at Essex Town Park drew more opposition than support Wednesday at a public hearing.

More than 100 residents packed the auditorium at town hall to express their views to the park and recreation commission.

The proposed rules would limit community activities at the Main Street park to ``low impact'' events of fewer than 100 people. The commission called the hearing at the urging of the board of selectmen and residents concerned about the proposal.

Commission Chairman Donald Mesite said the proposed guidelines for reserving the park were developed as part of a plan to restore the 2.2-acre park that borders the Middle Cove of the Connecticut River.

The commission has selected a landscape architectural firm, T.O Design of Hartford, to develop a plan to restore the park. Restoration would begin this fall.

Mesite said the proposed rules, generally endorsed by the commission in March, would become effective next year, after most of the restoration work is completed.

Many of the residents objecting to the rules are members of the Our Lady of Sorrows Church and the First Baptist Church, who are concerned that their annual craft fair fundraisers would be barred from the park.

The church members have been particularly troubled by reports that exceptions would be made for two other large events, the Essex Garden Club's May Market and the Essex Lions Club's annual lobster bake fundraiser.

Mesite said no exceptions have been made for any town organizations, and all applications to use the park would ``go through the same process'' after the rules become effective. He urged the residents to be open to ``communication, collaboration and compromise'' on the rules and plans to restore the park.

But many residents and groups, including the Lions Club and the Essex Board of Trade merchants group, expressed strong opposition to any rules that would prohibit events traditionally held at the park. Selectman Vincent Pacileo called on the commission to amend the guidelines to specifically allow events such as the church-sponsored craft fairs.

The Essex Garden Club, in a written statement, urged the commission to table the new rules until after the landscape architect submits a plan for restoring the park. The club declared it did not want any ``special user status'' and would consider options for relocating the May Market.

Some residents expressed support for the rules.

Jerome Wilson said the rules were a ``flexible and balanced'' response to damage to the park by the annual Connecticut River Eagle Festival. Betty Schellens, a longtime member of the garden club, said residents should be willing to bring the park back to ``its original intended use as a walking park with an unobstructed view of the cove from Main Street.''

Other residents suggested imposing a user fee for events at the park, with the amount of the fee determined by the size of the event. The income could be used to mitigate damage done by larger gatherings, they said.

Mesite said the commission would discuss the rules and the comments received at the public hearing at its June 8 meeting. ``We really do want to respect your input,'' he said.